Semi-Daily Scribbles

It’s a wrap on Thanksgiving 2010. The weekend was packed with family, food, and activities. Something to amuse everyone, from seeing “Tangled” to playing 18 holes to loading a moving van with furniture…ok, strike that last item. I had the good fortune to be afflicted with the worst cold caught in a long time. Some may not consider this to be a bad thing at all when I say that my taste buds were deadened to the traditional turkey dinner. Through my fog of sickness, however, I do recall an afternoon at Nana’s kitchen table with the nieces and nephews making Christmas ornaments. A great recycling project using holiday cards from years gone by. If you like the bauble above, leave a comment and I’ll send you the how-to.

Under festive lights and the chill of night, revelers turn out to ring in the season.

Staying away from crazed consumers on this Frantic Black Friday. I have a cold to starve, a mouth to feed, a book to read, and a log cabin to build. A bucket full of pieces and a bit of imagination is time well spent compared to queuing up at 3:00 a.m. in front of A Big Box Store.

Will your Thanksgiving feast include a side of the white stuff?

Understanding the way you influence your surroundings. Knowing what you say is being heard, no matter how softly spoken or trivial. Realizing that when you walk away from a place, you’ve altered the manner in which time is kept.

“The city is just not the same without you.”

A friend’s wistful remark forced me to view my relationships from a different vantage point. Shifting perspectives shines a light on things in need of attention.

On this Monday of a short holiday week, I shall look at an object, person, situation or place in a totally new perspective. I’ve been going about my business with blinders on and it’s left me feeling off balance. It’s time to clear the fog from my vision and take stock of this mission.

I’ll report back on the success of my quest.

Searching for a space that fits just right
Light a fire
Put my feet up
Drink in reflections off frosted glass
A word will set the tone
For a long stretch of contentment

“Oh no, it’s Thanksgiving. Now we have to eat turkey.”

For my friend who grew up in Colombia, turkeys are not a mainstay on the family dinner table. Save for this time of year, the bird doesn’t make an appearance on most folk’s plates anyway. I’d just as soon leave my obligatory holiday slice on the platter when it gets passed around next week. But the point of our friendly discussion wasn’t to merely talk turkey. Rather, my friend and I marveled at the mix of cultures one finds in towns big and small throughout the U.S. Something worthy for which to give thanks, to be sure, especially when this “American-ness” is something I take for granted. When it comes to celebrations, we needn’t model our feasts on (according to my friend) “those funny old Christmas movies from England.” Indeed, not! Humbug, I say. Dishes of fish and beef remind her of home. Her husband, part Asian, is partial to a traditionally dressed Chinese duck.

“Well there you go,” I said. “That’s your Thanksgiving menu.”

Now that would be a table at which I’d be most thankful to sup.

Early morning musings while downing my coffee. Recollecting spiderweb images from last night’s slumber. Thinking of what to say on a survey about doing things you don’t really want to do. Made mention to some person in charge that improving morale was at the top of The List. Declined an invitation to wash bicycles, but told a visitor I’d go to Holland. The catalogue on the counter has the name of my hometown. Must drop a suggestion in The Box. How I so look forward to my daily trade of random banter!